Tape dispensers



Aug. 19, 1958 c. CASTELLI TAPE DISPENSERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 6, 1955 C. CASTELLI Aug. 19,1958

TAPE DISPENSERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1: .1U. T 66 Filed April 6, 1955 INVENTOR [Zr/P15: (3457:11/ j BY ATTORN Y5:

TAPE DISPENSERS Charles Castelli, New Brunswick, N. J., assignor to Johnson & Johnson, a corporation of New Jersey Application April 6, 1955, Serial No. 9,596

17 Claims. (Cl. 16484.5)

The present invention relates to tape dispensers of the type comprising a spool for holding a roll of tape-like material, such as adhesive plaster, and a cutter slidable over the periphery of the spool for cutting off a required length of the tape unwound from the roll.

In one known form of surgical adhesive plaster dispenser, the spool comprises a central core and circular end walls connected to the ends of the core and spaced apart a sufficient distance to permit a strip of adhesive tape to be wound around the core between these end walls. The outer rim of each end wall is provided with a peripheral bead to receive slidably the corresponding end of the cutter. The tape cutter is mounted on the spool between the end walls of the spool with its cutting edge extending between these end walls, and has its ends bent to form channels to receive slidably the beaded peripheries of the end walls of the spool. The cutter slides freely around the peripheries of the end walls of the spool, so that it will not interfere with the tape during the winding or unwinding of the spool. When it isdesired to dispense a section of the wound-up tape, the required length of tape is unwound from the spool, and with the thumb of the hand pressed against the upper face of the cutter to hold the cutter in position on the spool, the tape is drawn across the cutting edge to sever the unwound section of the tape.

The end walls of the spool are of comparatively thin metal and during manipulation of the dispenser, these end walls may be flexed or pressed inwardly towards each other sufi'iciently to cause the beads on their peripheries to become disengaged from the channels at the ends of the cutter. This condition could be partially remedied by closing the channel ends of the cutter around the beads on the peripheries of the end walls of the spool, but this requires an additional assembly operation and will tighten up the connections between the cutter and the end walls of the spool, so that the cutter will not slide so freely.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved cutter, which can be easily snapped and latched on to the beaded edge of the end walls of a conventional adhesive tape dispenser and retained thereon for free slide movement thereabout, and which has simple but nevertheless strong elfective stop means for preventing these end walls from being flexed or moved inwardly towards each other to the point where they become disengaged from the ends of the cutter.

Another object is to provide a new and improved tape dispenser comprising the spool and a cutter of the improved type described.

A further object is to provide a new and improved method of manufacturing and assembling, by which stop devices are formed on the cutter and then bent into operative stop position automatically by the mere procedure of slipping a casing over the dispenser.

In carrying out certain features of the present invention, the cutter is made from a metal sheet having its ends bent inwardly to form channels into which the beaded edges of the end walls of the spool are nested. These nitcd States Patent channels are opened sufficiently therealong to allow them to be attached and retained on the spool simply by hooking one channel on to the head on one end wall and latching the other channel onto the bead of the other end wall by a snap-on fit.

As a feature of the invention, there is cut out of the cutter sheet, a pair of substantially alined stop fingers, each having a free edge located near the corresponding end of the sheet and having one side integrally connected to the body of the sheet at a region no closer to the latter end of the sheet than said finger edge. These fingers are depressed inwardly from the general plane of the body of the cutter, so that the outer free ends of these stop fingers in assembled position of the dispenser, project into the path of inward movements of the end walls of the spool and in positions to receive substantially edgewise, pressures from the adjacent end walls of the spools upon inward movements of said end walls and to limit thereby the extent of said inward movements. The free ends of these stop fingers when so depressed are located in limiting positions to prevent the end walls of the spool from being disengaged from the ends of the cutter when said end walls are pressed inwardly towards each other. These fingers designed, constructed and located as described, will be under compression along the plane of alinement or the fingers under the pressing action of the end walls of the spools, during dispensing manipulation of the spool. The fingers have great rigidity and structural strength in this direction, and therefore resist the pressing action of the end walls of the spool effectively, without being bent back into the general plane of the body of the cutter sheet or otherwise distorted.

As a further feature, the fingers have protuberances stamped therefrom in form of ribs or the like, and projecting outwardly from the body of the cutter sheet and radially outwardly beyond the beaded peripheries of the end walls of the spool, while the fingers cut out from said body, aside from said protuberances, are still in the plane of said body. When the substantially cylindrical casing usually employed to house the spool when not in use, is slipped over the spool with the cutter attached thereto and in the condition described, the peripheral wall of said casing, by engaging the protuberances on the stop fingers, depresses these fingers radially inward into position to limit inward movement or flexing of the end walls of the spool in a manner described.

Various other objects, features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following particular description and from the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is the top plan view of one form of cutter for a tape dispenser embodying the present invention, the cutter being shown before attachment to the spool and before the stop fingers thereon have been depressed into operative limiting position;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the cutter of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section of the cutter taken on lines 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a radial section of the spool and the cutter of Fig. 1 attached thereto and showing the casing or cover ready to he slipped over the spool and cutter;

Fig. 5 is a radial section of the spool and cutter of Fig. 1 with the casing slipped thereover and the stop fingers depressed into operative position by the casing;

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the tape dispenser of Figs. 1 to 5, shown with the casing separated from the spool;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of another form of cutter embodying the present invention and shown before attachment to the spool;

Fig. 8 is a section of the assembled tape dispenser with the cutter of Fig. 7 and the casing slipped in place over the spool and cutter;

Fig. 9 is a top ,plan view of another form of cutter embodying the present invention andhown,b,ef0rc the stop fingers on the cutter have been depressed into operative position;

He .1 i se tion f the putter of rFig. t9 itakn:0n lines 1010-th. r.eQf;

Fig. 11 is,- a radialsection:ofgthezcutteriofrFig. 9-shown in the process; of ,being snapped onto the spool;

Fig. 12 is a radial section of therspool and t-he;cutter of :Fig. 9,at tachedthereto and shows ,said .-cutter after the-stop fingers thereon, have been depressed E into operative ,position;

Fig. 13 isithe topsplan viewof still another'form of cutter embodying thepresent invention and'shown be'fore the :stop vfingersonthecutter have beendepressed into operative position;

'Fig.}1,4 is asectionofathecutter of Fig. l'3 taken on lines 14.-.-..1.4 thereof; and

;.Fig. 15 isthe-ra'dial section-of the assembled spool and cutter of'Fig. -13 and-shows the stop fingerson the cutter depressed.intoeoperative limiting position.

:Referring toFigs. 110 6 of the drawings, the-dispenser is shown of :t-he :type for dispensing surgical adhesive plasterin'tape-form and comprises a spool 10 of conventional construction having a central cylindrical core 11 around ;whichrthe adhesive-tape 12 is wound. Secured to the ends of the'core 11 in any suitable manner are two circularvend :walls 13-of the same sizeand having center holes .through which the ends of the core ll-project. 'Theouter rims of these end walls '13 are rolled outwardly to form peripheral beads 14, serving l) -to eliminate sharp peripheral edges which might injure the fingers .of a manipulator, (2) to impart rigidity to the end .walls,tand (3.) to form rails for a cutterIS as'will be more fully described.

The tapedispenser also comprises a conventional tubular cover or casing 16, which is adaptedfi-to be slipped overthe'assembled spool 10 and cutter 15when not in use, to vprotect the-adhesive'tape 12 and keep it clean and to preventinjury by contact with the cutting edge of the .cutter, This casing 16 is in cylindrical form except 'for a slight taper provided to facilitate entry of one endof thespool into the casing during the process of slipping thespoolinto the casing. The casing 16 at its larger "end has-its rim rolledoutwardly .to form an outside head 17 -to'-l'prevent exposure of the sharp edge and to impart rigidity to thecasing' and has an internal diameter at this larger endlarge enough to receive with a snug slide -fit one end or the 'spool '10 with attached cutter 15. At the other smaller end of the casing 16, the rim is 'rolled' inwardly to form an inside QbeadQIS to prevent exposure of the sharp edge and to impart rigidity to the casing and 'has an internaldiameter'srnall enough to receive the end of the spool 10 with attached cutter 1 with asnug friction fit but large enough to permit the spoolto be pushed out of the casing 16 with ease. The inturned'beadlS on the casing; 1 6also serves as a stop for the spoollO in fully inserted position or the spool in the casing, limiting movement of the spool in one axialdirection. Aser'ies ofprotuberances 20 ;on the peripheral wall of the casing 16 stamped inwardly from said wall near the smaller end of;the casing, serve as snap catches for the head 14 on the end--,wall-;-13 of the spool near this smaller .end of--the casing and thereby serve to retain the spool -in the casing iagainst accidental axial withdrawal-therefrom in the opposite axial direction.

The cutter .isstamped lfrom-a singleblank of -sheet metal and is arcuately curved as shown in' Fig. "3 -to conform with the' circular curvature of'the peripheries of the end walls'13 of the spool 10. Along its front side, the cutter 15 is provided with a serrated cutting edge 23 along whichanunwound section of theadhesive-tape 12 maybe drawn -to' sever it. 'This'cutting edge 23ihas 4 a slight concave curvature to facilitate start of the tape severance.

At its ends, the cutter 15 is rolled inwardly to form hollow beads or channels 24 adapted to receive the beads 14 on the end walls 13 of the spool 10. The end channels 24 on the cutter 15 are opened along the length thereof sufficiently to permit the cutter to be attached to the spool 10 by the simple'manipulation of hooking one channel on to the head 14 of one end wall 13 of the spool while the other end channel is raised from the spool, and then snappingthe latter end channel-onto the bead 14 of the other endzwall -13. The'end'walls 13 of the spool 10-are thin enough to be resilient and to flex inwardly in the process of snapping the cutter 15 thereon. If desired, the end walls 13 of the spool 10 may be pressed inward to facilitate engagement of the end channels 24 with the respective beads 14 on said end walls for assembly. When the spool 10 and cutter 1=5.are combined as-described, the cutter 15 will be attached'to :the "spool 10, --as shown in Fig. 4.

Theend channels 24 'are 'opened sufiiciently, not only to allow for assembly in the manner described, but also to permit the cutter -l5 to slide freely along the peripheries of the end -.walls 13 of thespool 10, using the beads 14 on theend walls as rails for that purpose. During the operation of unwinding a section of the tape 12 and drawing itacross the cutting edge 23 of the cutter 15, the'end =walls 13 of the spool 10 are 'apt to be pressed inward-towards each other by 'the fingers of the manipulator and'due'to the resiliency'of these end walls 13, they may-be fiexedinwardlysufficiently to cause the beads 14 thereon-to become disengaged from the channels 24 on the cutter.

To avoid disengagement of the cutter 15 from the beads '14 of the-spoollO underthe-conditions described, the cutter -15 has cut-outtherefrom a-stop device comprising apair ofstop fingers shown of generally rectangularform, each finger'being'severed on three sides from the body of "the cutter and being integral on its fourth-side with-the body of the cutter. Thetwo'fingers 25 'are in'longitudinal alinement between the two end walls 13 -of the spool "10, except for a slight curvature in said fingers in conformance with the curvature of the cutting edge 23, and connect at their inner confronting ends integrally with the intermediate section of the body of the cutter '15. -These fingers 25'thereby are'bendable radially inward at their inner ends '26 along respective axes extending substantiallyfparallel to the channel ends of the' cutter,to'cause their outerfree ends 27 to project radially inward into the path of 'inwardflflexing movement of "the end walls 13, as shown inFig. 5.

When vfirst 'cut out of the cutter blank, the ,fingers 25 are in the'generalplane of the body of the blank,'as shown in Fig. .4. These fingers 125, as far as certain aspects of the invention are'concerned, may be pushed down by the use of a'suitable .tool from ,thevposition shown in Fig. 4"into' the operative stop-position'shown in Fig. ,5. However, fin the form shown, thislfinger depressing ope'ration is accomplishedautomatically by the operation of slipping the casing 156 over the spool 10 and'cutter 15, after the assembly thereof. To that end, each of'the fingers r25.has .aradial outward protuberance 30 stamped'thereo-n, desirably in the form of a rib extending lengthwise thereof. These ribs 30 are stamped on thecutter 15 at the sametime the fingers 25 are cut out'o'f the cutter, and when the cutter is. attached to the spool 10, these ribs ,project beyond a .-circle ,having a diameter equal to :the smallest internaldiameter of the casing 16, as shownin Fig. .4. vSince .these ribs 30 in radial section slope on opposite .ends from .the general plane of thebody of the cutter ,1-5, as shown in Fig. 4, the passage of the casing 16 axially .over the cutter and over the ribs is effected with ease, and causes the fingers 25 to be depressed radially inwardabout their inner ends 26 .bythe-.cammiqg action-20f the casing .011 ,said :ribs.

As a result, the fingers 25 will be pushed into position to cause their outer free ends 27 to lie in the path of inward flexing movements of the end walls 13 of the spool, as shown in Fig. 5.

The ribs 30 serve not only as cams for the purpose indicated, but also as means to impart rigidity to the fingers.

The casing 16 may be slipped over the spool and attached cutter as a final step in assembly, before storage and/or shipping. When the casing 16 is slipped off the spool 10 for use, the fingers 25 will remain depressed in limiting operative position.

In depressed operative positions of the fingers 25, the distance a (Fig. 5) from each end wall 13 of the spool 10 in normal position to the free end 27 of the adjacent finger 25 is smaller than the width of the bead 14 on said end Wall, to prevent the inward flexing of the end wall to the point where the bead will become disengaged from its enclosing channel 24 on the cutter 15.

To impart additional rigidity to the cutter 15, the cutter has stamped thereon two ribs 35 and 36 projecting radially inward and extending between the channel ends of the cutter. These ribs 35 and 36 are curved in conformance Wtih the curvature-of the cutting edge 23 and flank opposite sides of the fingers 25. The front rib 35 near the cutting edge 25 imparts rigidity to said cutting edge against the pulling action of the tape 12, as it is drawn along said cutting edge. The rear rib 36 not only imparts rigidity to'the rear section of the cutter 15, but also serves to break up the continuity of the outer surface of the cutter rearwardly of the stop fingers 25, to afford a surface on which the thumb of the manipulators hand can take hold in sliding the cutter 15 along the periphery of the spool 10 and in restraining the cutter in fixed position, as the unwound section of tape 12 is drawn across the cutting edge 23 for severance.

In operation, while a section of the tape 12 is being drawn across the cutting edge 23 of the cutter 15 for severance, the hand of the manipulator holding the spool 10 and the cutter may be pressing the end walls 13 of the spool 10 inwardly. These inward movements of the end walls 13, however, are limited by the stop fingers 25, so that the beads 14 on said end walls are confined within the end channels 24 of the cutter 15. It should be noted that the pressures of the end walls 13 on the stop fingers 25 are transmitted to said fingers substantially edgewise thereof in a plane extending lengthwise of the fingers, so that there is little or no bending moment on these fingers about their integral connections with the cutter 15, due to these pressures. The fingers 25, being therefore mainly under compression as a result of the inward movements of the end walls 13 of the spool 10, are able to withstand effectively the pressures from these end walls without distortion or deformation.

It should be noted that the improved cutter 15 of the present invention may be applied to spools 10 of conventional constructions, without any changes in these constructions.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a cutter 15 which is a modification of the cutter illustrated in Figs. 1-6. In this modification, instead of cutting out two separate fingers from the cutting blank, a single stop device 40 is cut out therefrom in the form of a T. This stop device 40 has a center constricted rear stem 41 integrally connected to the body of the cutter 15 and side arms 25 serving as stop fingers for the end walls 13'of the spool 10 and curved in conformity with the curvature of the cutting edge 23. A single rib 30, stamped centrally of the fingers 25 and projecting radially outwardy therefrom when said fingers are in the general plane of the body of the cutter 15 extends along said fingers and serves not only to reinforce said fingers but also as a cam by which the fingers are depressed radially inwardly about the stem 41, when the casing 16 is slipped over the spool 10 with attached cutter 15 in the final assembly operation before storing and/or shipping. The fingers 25 are bent radially inward by this camming operation about an axis b (Fig. 7) extending across the stem 41 between the channel ends 'of the cutter 15 as shown in Fig. 8, and in depressed position, these fingers limit the inward flexing movements of the end walls 13 of the spool 10, so that the beads 14 on said walls cannot become disengaged from the channels 24 at the ends of the cutter 15.

Aside from the features of the modification of Figs. 7 and 8 described, the construction of this modification is the same as that of Figs. 1 to 6.

Figs. 9 to 12 show another modification, in which the cutter 15 does not have the camming conformations on the stop fingers. In this modification, there are provided fingers 25 similar to the fingers 25 in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6, these fingers 25 difiering only in the absence of the camming ribs 30 thereon. These plain fingers 25 lie in the general plane of the body of the cutter 15 when detached from the spool 10 and can be depressed by means of a suitable tool, after the cutter has been attached to the spool, as shown in Fig. 12. This attachment is effected in the manner described in connection with the construction of Figs. 1 to 6, simply by hooking on one end channel 24 of the cutter 15 onto one of the beads 14 of the spool 10 and latching 0n the other end channel 24 of the cutter onto the other bead 14 of the spool, as shown in Fig. 11. The end wall 13 carrying the latter bead 14 may be flexed inwardly during this assembly operation to facilitate this assembly operation, as shown in Fig. 11.

The cutter 15 has a reinforcing rib 35 between the fingers 25 and the cutting edge 23 similar to the rib 35 in the construction of Figs. 1 to 6. However, in the rear part of the cutter 15*, instead of providing a slender rib similar to the rib 36 in the construction of Figs. 1 to 6, the cutter has a substantially elliptical depression 36*, stamped out from the cutter and serving not only to impart rigidity to the cutter but also to provide a convenient recess for the thumb of the user in the manipulation of the dispenser.

Except for the distinctions pointed out, the cutter 15 of Figs. 9 to 12 is similar to the cutter 15 of Figs. 1 to 6 and is similarly operated.

Figs. 13 to 15 show another modified form of cutter 15, which is somewhat similar to the cutter 15 of Figs. 7 and 8, except in certain respects to be indicated. This cutter 15 has a straight serrated cutting edge 23 instead of a slightly curved one, as in the case of Figs. 7 and 8, and has a T-shaped stop device 40 reversed from the T-shaped stop device 40 in the construction of Figss. 7 and 8. This stop device 40 has a center constricted front stem 41 integrally connected to the body of the cutter 15 and straight side arms 25 serving as stop fingers for the end walls 13 of the spool 10. A single rib 30 in straight elongated form is stamped centrally of the stop fingers 25 and extends the full length of said fingers. This rib 30 is depressed inward in the stop fingers 25 and therefore does not serve as a cam to bend the fingers inwardly upon slide movement of the casing 16 thereover, as in the construction of Figs. 7 and 8, but serves merely as a means of reinforcing these fingers.

The cutter 15 has inward ribs 35 and 36, similar to the ribs 35 and 36 in the construction of Figs. 1 to 6, except that the ribs 35 and 36 are straight, and serving similar purposes.

The fingers 25 are substantially in the general plane of the body of the cutter 15 before attachment to the spool 10, as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig 15. The cutter 15 it latched on to the spool 10 in the manner shown in Fig. 15 and described in connection with the other forms of cutters disclosed herein. After such attachment, the fingers 25 are bent by a suitable tool radially inward into operative position about an axis c (Fig. 13) extending across the stem 41 between the channelendsrofthe cutter ,159, as showminEig. v13. These fingers 25, when so depressed, limit the inward flexing movements -of ,the end walls 13 .of ,the spool 10, so that the 'beads 14 on said walls cannot become disengaged fromthe channels 24 at the ends ,of the ,cutter 15.

Except -for the distinctions pointed out, and for the fact that the .cutter l -has a comparatively largeopening 43 to receive .the fingers 25, the cutter of Figs. 13,44 and 15 'is similar to thecutter 15 of Figs. 7 and 8 and is similarlyoperated.

In all of the forms of the invention shown, the two stop fingers in eachcutter extend ..fromadjoining regions where they are integrally connected to the .body .of the cutter, and are located impositions to receive pressures fromthe walls .of thespoolsubstantially edgewise of .said fingers, assaid ,end walls are pressed'inwardly. These fingers, =when subjected to .theinwardly pressed end walls, are thereby not under any substantial bending moment but are mainly in edgewise compression. These stop fingers, therefore, effectively resist pressing action from the end walls of the spool, withoutidistortion vordeformation of said fingers.

While the invention has been described withparticular reference .to specific embodiments, it is to be understood that it is 'not to belimitedthereto, but isrto be construed broadly and restricted solely by the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

.l. A cutter fora tape dispenser, comprising a sheet of metal having means .at its .ends ,for engaging the peripheries of the end walls ofatape spoolfor attachment to saidspool means near one end of the-sheetfor limiting the extent of inward movement of the end wall which engages the said one end of the sheet in assembled position ofthecutter and the spool, themeans at the other endbf thesheet for engaging the periphery of the other end Wall of the tapespoolaffording -a clearance on the innerside ,of ,the periphery of said other end wallin assembled position of the cutter and .the spool permitting inward movement of said other end wall and ,a stop .finger .cutout from said sheet and having ;a free edge located near said other ,end of the sheet, said finger being integrallyconnectedtothe body of the sheet.v at alregion .no closer to the latter end ;of the sheet than said freefinger edge when saidfinger is in position substantially in the general plane of the body of the sheet .and being bent from the latter-position about said region at an acute angle with said general plane, to cause the free edge of the finger to project from said :body into position to receive substantially edgewise pressure ,fromsaid otherrend wall of the-spool engaging thelatterend of the sheet upon inward movement of the latter end wall .and to limit thereby'the extent of the latter inward .movement, said edgewise pressure being in ,a directionto-be free from any tendency to move said finger towards said position upon inward movement of saidothen end wall.

,2, A cutter asset forth in claim v1, wherein thefinger extends lengthwise between'the ends of the sheet, wherein the finger hasvits free edge atoneend of the finger .and is integrally connected .to the body of the sheet at..its opposite end, and wherein the finger is'bent into limiting position about said opposite end along an axis extending crosswise of the cutter.

3. A cutter assetforth in claim 1, wherein the finger is integrally connected to the body of .the cutter sheet along a regionextending :between the ends of .thesheet and is bent into limiting position along anzaxis extending alongsaid region betweenthe ends of the sheet.

4. Aicutterror a tape uispenser, comprising a sheetof metal having means atits ends for engaging theperipheries of the end walls of ata-pe spool for attachment to said spool, said means aifording respective clearances onthe inner sides of the=peripheries of the:end walls of the spool in assembled position of..the cutterand the spool permitting vinwardmovements of theend walls, tand a pair of stop fingers cut out -from said sheet and each having a free edge which vislocated near the corresponding end of the sheet and being integrally connectedto the body of the sheet at a regiomno .closer to ,the latter end of the sheet than said free finger edge, when the latter finger is in position substantially in the general plane of the body of ,thesheet, said:finger s being bent from .respective latter positions about saidrespective regions at respective acute angles with the general plane-of ,the body ,of the sheet, to cause the free edgesof thefingers to'project from said body into positions to receive substantially edgewise pressures from the adjacent end walls respectively of thespool upon inward movements .ofsaid end walls and to limit thereby the extent of said inward movements, said edgewise pressures being in directions 'to befree ifromany tendency to move the respective fingers towards said respectivepositions.

5. ,A cutter for a tape ,dispensercomprising a sheet of metal ,havingits tends ,-r olled;to form respective channels to receive with-a :snap slide ,fit the peripheral beads respectively: of-theend walls-of .atapespool for attachment tosaid-spool,saidchannels being open on their inner sides, thereby permitting limited inward movements of the end walls of the spool :in assembledposition of the cutter and the spool, and -a pair of :stop fingers cut out from said sheet and eachhaving a free edge which is located near the corresponding end ,of the sheet and beingintegrally; connectedto theqbodvof the sheet at aregion no closer to the latter 1end-,of the sheet than said free finger edge when qthe latter :fingergis in position substantially in the general planeof :the body of the sheet, said fingers being bent from respective latter positions about said regions respectively at resp c ive acute angles with thegen ral plane of the'body ,of the;sheet to cause the 'freeedges of the fingers to ,proiect from, said body; into positions to ,receive isubstantiallysedgewise pressures from the adjacent end walls respectively of the ;spool upon inward movements of said ,end' wallsarid-to limit thereby theextent of said inward movements,lsaidzedgewise pressures being in directions to -.be free ;-fr,om any tendency to move the respective .fingers ,stOWflldS said respective positions, the freeedgetof each fingerjn bentiposition of the finger being zsufliciently close torthe adjacent end wall to prevent the-bead on thelattenwalkfrom becoming disengaged from the corresponding :channel "on 'the cutter upon inward m v ment of .thedatter en w l -6.. A-cutter for a. tape dispenser comprising a,sheet of metalhaving meansat its. endsionengaging the, peripheries of the :endwallspf 1a tapespool for attachment to said spool, means ;ne ar one-end of the 'sheetfor limiting-the extent or" inward'zmovement of the lend wall which ,engages thelsaid one;encl of, the sheet in assembled position of the cutter and'the spool, and a stop finger cut out from said "sheet ,and integrally connected thereto, said stop finger being adaptedto ,be bent outof the general plane of said sheet, inwardly into position tolimitinwardmovement of the other of said end walls, and a projection on the outer face of said finger stamped therefrom and servingas a cam by which :said stop finger can be bent inwardlyrinto limiting position automatically as a tubular casing isslipped overthespool and the attached cutter.

7. A tapecutteras set' forth in claim 6, whereinsaid projection. is in ,the ,form of ,a rib extending lengthwise ,of the fingerandserving notonly as a cam by which Said fingerrnay ,be, bent inwardly into limiting position but also ,as a reinforcementtor,said; finger to impart rigidity thereto againstithe,pressureaction of said other end wall thereagainst.

8. A cutterjfora tape dispenser comprisinga sheetof metalhhaving ,channelsatits ends respectively adapted to,-reeeive with a slide fit beads on the peripheries of the end walls of aspool to which said cutter is adapted to be attached, said channels being openon their innervsides, thereb i ermittingilimited.inwardsmovements of theend walls of the spool in assembled position of the cutter and the spool, said cutter having a forward cutting edge across which the tape is adapted to be drawn for severance, a pair of substantially longitudinally alined fingers cut out from said sheet and extending between said channels, the inner confronting ends of said fingers being integrally connected to said sheet in the intermediate region of the sheet, said fingers extending from said inner ends in opposite directions towards the opposite ends of said sheet, and terminating at their free ends adjacent to the corresponding channels, said fingers being bent inwardly from respective positions substantially in the general plane of the body of the sheet at respective acute angles with the general plane of the body of the sheet and about respective axes extending substantially parallel to said channels and across the inner ends respectively of said fingers, to cause the free ends of said fingers to project in the paths of inward movements of the end walls of the spool in assembled position of said cutter and the spool, and to limit thereby said inward movements, said fingers extending in directions to receive from respective end walls upon inward movements of said end walls edgewise pressure free from any tendency to move said fingers back towards said respective position.

9. A cutter for a tape dispenser comprising a sheet of metal having channels at its ends respectively adapted to receive with a slide fit beads on the peripheries of the end walls of a spool to which said cutter is adapted to be attached, said channels being open' on their inner sides, thereby permitting limited inward movements of the end walls of the spool in assembled position of the cutter and the spool, said cutter having a forward cutting edge across which the tape is adapted to be drawn for severance and a stop device for limiting the inward movements of the end walls of the spool, said stop device being in the form of a T with a constricted stem extending substantially parallel to said channels and integrally connected at its base to the body of the sheet and having cross arms serving as stop fingers extending from said stem in opposite directions and terminating at their free ends near respective channels, said stop device being adapted to be bent inwardly about an axis across said stem to project the ends of said fingers in the inward paths of the end walls of the spool in assembled position of the cutter and the spool.

10. A cutter as set forth in claim 9, wherein the stem is on the rear side of the cross arms.

11. A cutter as set forth in claim 9, wherein the stem is on the forward side of the cross arms.

12. A tape dispenser comprising a spool having a core around which the tape is adapted to be wound, and a pair of circular end walls of substantially the same diameter, with their peripheries rolled to form respective beads, and a cutter comprising a sheet of metal having its ends rolled to form channels to receive said beads with a slide fit, and having a cutting edge extending lengthwise of said cutter between said ends, said channels being open on their inner sides, thereby permitting limited inward movements of the end walls of the spool, said cutter having a pair of stop fingers cut out from the sheet and each having a free edge which is located near the corresponding end of the sheet and being integrally connected to the body of the sheet at a region no closer to the latter end of the sheet than said free finger edge, when said fingers are in respective positions substantially in the general plane of the body of said sheet, said fingers being bent radially inward about said respective regions from said respective positions at respective acute angles with said plane to cause the free edges of the fingers to project from said body into position to receive substantially edgewise pressures from the adjacent end walls respectively of the spools upon inward movements of said end walls free from any tendency to move said fingers back towards said respective positions substantially in the general plane of the body of said sheet and to limit thereby the extent of said inward movements, the free edge of each finger in bent position of the finger being sufliciently close to the adjacent end wall to prevent the bead onthe latter wall from becoming disengaged from the corresponding channel on the cutter upon inward movement of the latter end wall, but being spaced from the corresponding end walls to permit the cutter to slide freely over the spool.

13. A tape dispenser comprising a spool having a core around which the tape is adapted to be wound and a pair of circular end walls, a cutter engaging the peripheries of said end walls to form a unit therewith and slidable therealong, said cutter being in the form of a sheet of metal and having a pair of stop fingers cut out from said sheet and integrally connected thereto, said stop fingers being adapted to be bent out of the general plane of said sheet inwardly into positions to limit inward movements of said end walls respectively, each of said fingers having a projection on its outer face stamped therefrom, and a tubular casing for the spool and cutter unit adapted to fit snugly over said unit with a slide fit, and adapted when slid over said unit for the first time to engage and press said projections radially inwardly, whereby said fingers are cammed and bent radially inwardly from the general plane of the body of said sheet into said limiting positions.

14. 'A method of manufacturing and assembling a tape dispenser having a spool with end walls, a cutter made from a metal sheet blank and provided with means at its ends to engage the peripheries of said end walls respectively and to slide over said peripheries, and a tubular casing for snugly receiving said spool and said cutter, which method comprises stamping from the cutter sheet blank a pair of fingers each integral with the blank along a marginal region of the finger and having respective free ends near the corresponding ends of the cutter, said fingers lying substantially in the general plane of said blank and having respective rib projections on their outer faces reinforcing said fingers, attaching said cutter to said spool with the ends of said cutter slidably engaging the peripheries respectively of said end Walls, and sliding the tubular casing over said spool and attached cutter to house said spool and cutter therein, said casing during this slide operation engaging the projections on said fingers and bending thereby said fingers radially inward to cause their free ends to move into positions to limit inward movements of said end walls.

15. A cutter for a tape dispenser comprising a sheet of metal having channels at its ends respectively adapted to receive with a slide fit beads on the peripheries of the end walls of a spool to which said cutter is adapted to be attached, said cutter having a forward cutting edge across which the tape is adapted to be drawn for severance, a pair of substantially longitudinally alined fingers cut out from said sheet and extending between said channels, the inner confronting ends of said fingers being integrally connected to said sheet in the intermediate region of the sheet, said fingers extending from said inner ends in opposite directions towards the opposite ends of said sheet, and terminating at their free ends adjacent to the corresponding channels, said fingers being adapted to be bent inwardly about respective axes extending substantially parallel to said channels and across the inner ends respectively of said fingers, to cause the free ends of said fingers to project in the paths of inward movements of the end walls of the spool in assembled position of the cutter and the spool, and to limit thereby said inward movements, each of said fingers having a rib stamped thereon and extending lengthwise thereof to reinforce said finger, said ribs projecting from the outer faces of the fingers and serving also as cams by which said fingers may be bent inwardly into limiting positions automatically by the pressing action of a tubular casing for the dispenser as the casing is slipped over the spool and attached cutter.

16. A cutter for a tape dispenser comprising a sheet of metal having channels at its ends respectively adapted to receive with a slide fit beads on the peripheries of the end walls of a spool to which said cutter is adapted to be attached, said cutter having a forward cutting edge 111 aemss wh ch he t pe i te ante m-be dnawntq ae e ancc an as ep .de ice.fo lim tin zth t inwa dtm yemems qftth endewalls .Q tthetsp al, saidtstop e ebein imt r fermpf ;=.a T wit a onstn e ed stem ext ndin sub anal y p a e t sa phan el a n a ly. nn e e a its baserto th Q Y of th sh etan ,h stingems a m serving step fin ers :extend g :frQ n sai ts m in .qppcs te direction (an se minatin \a vthc r time ear s mea resneetive. chann ls sa z t p exice e ng-a apleiz p h bcnttinw r y abo a axi a r sai t m't prqi st thet nd o tsaid fing r dn th i wa Pa of h end al m [th $11091 intrassembled po siti n f the cutter and hespo l, eaeh-ofsaid fingerj hav n a r extendin engmwisethereof and; stamped theref nqm q t re nf te menneachlo flsa d ri p qi n itqm h Lenten-flaw 9 th rrespQnc1 n -.-fin e t tse v a a amby hieh aid finge will the: autqmati ally d presse inwa into m ingnesit pn by tth lslid raet q o i a tubu a v a in Over th L ut e when attache to t R001- 17.1Atap -d spen e tc nprising a noso tha in etqq fi around whi h the tape s a pted t :be tmn k-endt pair pf circular end walls-of substantially the samefiianb eter, with their peripheries rolled ;to form respective hea and a cn emomp i iag, a as of meta s avi g i ends trolledtto form ehannels t o reqeive said b63615 with aslide fit, and having a ,cutting ,edge extending lengthwis r f sa d u e t e ne e dem c cutt nhavi s tpa of stop :fing s c ou fmmthe .she taa fl s havi t e edg wh ch ..at =na 9 svsm n Fil e th @Sheet andr'be ygl at ra v qnne ed lf jlmd -.Q h hefl -at a e qnn :C to t la t nd oft he t a saida xe lfin ed esai fin beingadapted (t0 he gent radially inward about said respective ,regipns from the general plane pf the body of the tsheet tocause the free edges of the fingers to prqject frqm s aid hodytinto position.to receive-substantially edgewi se pressures irom the adjacent end walls respectively f tl l'espools upqn inward movements of said end walls and to limit thereby the extent of ,s a id inward movements, thefree edge pf each finger ,in bent position of the fingerbein g snfiieient ly elqse tothe adjacent end wall tp prevent the headmn the latter wall from becgming disengaged from the egrresppnding channel on the eutter neon wi nward movement of the latter end wall each of a d fin er h vin e n mc ng ri st m t erefm and projecting .frohr its qqter face, said rib servjngtalsmas steem mhend ai finge a i y a y u slid mqyernentpf ,a tubular casing over said spool and isaid Qutt r- 'Refenences -Cited in the file of this patent "UNITED STATES PATENTS 

